Drier



c. s. O'NElL arch 18, 1952 DRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1946 wl I l I l l l IIIII H l I l l l l I I l lllJlllllIIIIIIIHHHHIIIII!EIH Jl l 1 I l l 1 I L I N V EN TOR. CZ zczrlea 5 Oil 62% C. S. O'NEIL March18, 1952 DRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1946 QQOQOQOOO .QQQOQQINVENTOR. Charles 5 W twenty 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 C. S, O'NEIL DRIER 1 arch18, 1952 Filed Sept. 20, 1946 l INVENTOR. UMZTZ655 Patented Mar. 18,1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE DRIER;

Charles S. ONeil, Two Rivers, Wis., assignor to Hamilton ManufacturingCompany, Two Rive'rs, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin ApplicationSeptember 20, 1946-, Serial No. 698,240

The invention relates generally to laundry dryers and more particularlyto a laundry dryer of the type in which the laundry'is tumbled in thepresence of heat to remove moisture therefrom.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel dryer of theforegoing type, which is capable of drying the laundry quickly and at arelatively low operating cost, and which is relatively inexpensive toproduce on a quantity basis.

Another important object is to provide a novel dryer of'the foregoingtype, comprising a casing with means therein providing a drying chamberthrough which heated air is circulated, such air after passing throughthe drying chamber being discharged into the space between the casingand said means, where a major portion of the moisture in the air iscondensed and the air is then returned for reheating and recirculationthrough the drying chamber.

A further object is to provide a novel dryer in which the meansproviding the drying chamber is in the form of a rotating drum and isprovided with elements on its periphery for stirring the air within thecasingso that it will thoroughly contact the casing walls to cause amaximum condensation.

Still another object is to provide a novel dryer in which the airdischarged from the drying chamber is passed through a meanslocatedwithin the casing for substantially reducing the temperature' of the airto cause condensation of a major portion o'fthe moisture content of theair.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which?Figure 1 is afront e evational view of a dryer embodying the features ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryfront elevationaLview similar to Fig. 1 butshowing a modified form of dryer.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectionalview taken on the line 4--4 ofFig.3.

Asheretofore mentioned, the present invention relates to a laundry dryerin which the laundry is tumbled in the presence of heat to removemoisture therefrom. To this end, the laundry isplaced in the dryingchamber and air is circulated therethrough to carry away the moistureasit evaporates from the laundry. In order to prevent dust from beingcarried into the laundry whileit is being dried. by air taken from theoutside of the machine, it is. preferable I to recircu- 7 Claims. (CI.34-77) late the air within the machine so that the only dirt that can becarried into the laundry will be that suspended in the air within themachine at the time the drying operation is started. However, toeffectively dry the laundry, the air discharged from the drying chamberof the machine must have itsmoisture content reduced before the air isrecirculated through the drying chamber.

The present machine provides for operation in the manner set forth aboveand, to this end, comprises generally a casing structure within which,in spacedrelation thereto, is mounted a rotatable drum constituting thedrying chamber andin which the laundry is placed.- The drumissubstantially closed to the outside air but is provided with an intakeand an outlet communicating with the space-between the' drum and thecasing. The dryer also includes means for drawing air through the intakefrom said space into the drum and for discharging such air, after itbecomes moisture laden, into said space, the air as it enters the drumbeing heated to increase its moisture absorbing capacity and thusfacilitate the drying operation. The air, in circulating throughthespace between the drum and the casing.- comes in contact with therelatively cool outerwalls of the casing (such walls being cooled eithernaturally or by forced cooling) and is reduced in temperature by suchcontact to an extent suflicient to cause condensation of a portion ofthe moisture content of the air. Thus, when the air is re-introducedinto the drum andheated, it-will have sufiicient'moisture absorbingcapacity to effect further dryin ofthe laundry The drumis adapted to berotatably driven to tumble the laundry during the drying operation andthus expose all portions thereof to the air, and the drum is providedwith means on its exterior to stir the air discharged from the drumintothe space between the drum and the casing so that the contact ofsuch air with the casing is thereby increased and a maximum condensationtakes place.

y In the modified form shown inFigs. 3- and-4 of the drawings, insteadof relying solely on the condensing action of bringing. the airdischarged from the drum into contact with the outside casing, acondensing means is mounted within the space between the drum and theoutside casing. With this construction, air as it is discharged from thedrum first passes through the condensing means where the air ispositively cooled by spraying a cooling. fluid therein and a. majorannular guide ribs 42 thereon. flange I! thus serves as a pulleyconstituting part of the drive for the drum l5.

portion of the moisture content of the air is thus condensed. The airthen passes from the condensing means into the space between the drumand outside casing to contact with the outer casing for further coolingand condensing action before it is recirculated through the drum.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2comprises an outer casing indicated generally at H). Preferably, thecasing I is rectilinear in form and has a flat top wall a front wall I2, a rear wall l3, as well as side and bottom walls. Extending parallelto the rear wall l3 but spaced therefrom is a transverse partition l4,and mounted in the space between the front wall l2 and the partition I4is means providing a drying chamber which, in the present instance,constitutes a drum indicated generally at 5. The drum I5 is preferablycylindrical in form with its axis horizontal, and is of such size as toprovide a substantial space between the drum and the surrounding wallsof the casing In.

The drum I5 is insulated on its peripheral and end walls to preventradiation of heat therefrom into the space within the casing l0, and isprovided at its ends with axially extending annular flanges 6 and IT.The flange l6 at the front end of the drum registers with an annularopening in the front wall l2 of the casing H] to provide for access tothe interior of the drum whereby the laundry may be inserted in andwithdrawn from the drum. The opening through the annular flange I6 isadapted to be closed by a door 2| hingedly mounted on the front wall I 2of the casing, the door 2| when closed providing a substantiallyairtight seal so that no substantial circulation of air can take place'therethrou h when the machine is in operation.

A removable lint catcher in the form of a screen 22 may be placed withinthe opening of the flange IS. The rear annular flange l1 extends throughan opening 23 provided in the transverse partition The drum is rotatablysupported in the abovedescribed position by any suitable means, butpreferably by a unitary supporting structure comprising a base 24 havinguprights 25 and 26 at its front and rear ends. The uprights 25 and 26preferably are provided with rollers 21 on which the annular flanges l6and 11 are rotatably mounted, thus supporting the drum H5 at itsopposite ends.

Air is adapted to be circulated within the drum, preferably by means ofa fan 30 mounted coaxially therewith adjacent the rear end thereof. Toprevent the laundry from becoming entangled with the fan 30, aperforated dome-shaped guard 3| may be provided to enclose the blades ofthe fan 30. The fan 30 is preferably mounted directly on the front endof the shaft 32 of a 'drive motor 33 supported within the annular flangeI1 by a bracket 34 rigidly secured tovthe is provided with a pulley 35on the rear end of the motor shaft, connected by a belt 36 to a pulley31 carried on a shaft supported in a springmounted bracket 38 carried onthe rear upright 26. Mounted on the same shaft with the pulley 31 is asecond pulley 40 driving a belt 4| extending over the annular flange I!and held between The annular As heretofore mentioned, the air circulatedthrough the drying chamber by the fan 30 is adapted to be dischargedfrom the drum into the space between the drum and the outer casing I0Where the moisture content thereof is to a reat extent condensed, andthe air is then recirculated through the drum. The interior of the drumis preferably provided with a plurality of inwardly extending ribs 43 bywhich the laundry is adapted to be tumbled during the drying operationto expose all portions thereof uniformly to the drying action of the aircirculated within the drum. To provide for the recirculation of the air,the annular flanges l6 and I! are provided with radial openings 44located so as to communicate with the space between the drum and thecasing I 0. Thus, during the operation of the machine, the fan 30 willcause circulation of air within the drying chamber and will force someof such air forwardly through the annular flange l6 where any lint inthe air will be caught by the lint catcher 22. The air will then bedischarged radially through the openings 44 in the flange Hi. The air sodischarged into this space will contact the outer walls of the casingand, since they are substantially at the temperature of the outside air,the air within the casing will thereby be cooled and a portion of themoisture content thereof will be condensed. The condensation will settleon the walls of the casing l0 and will drain downwardly to the basethereof where it may be discharged through a drain pipe 45. To insurehaving such air come in thorough contact with the casing walls, theouter periphery of the drum may be provided with a plurality of radiallyextendingblades 46 to stir the air within the space between the drum andthe casing and thus force the air into contact with the casing walls.

After the air is circulated Within such space and has had a portion ofits moisture content condensed therefrom, the air is then drawn inwardlythrough the openings 44 in the flange IT for recirculation within thedrying chamber by the fan 30. On passing through the openings 44 in theannular flange H, the air passes through an electrical heating element41 to substantially raise its temperature and thus increase its moisturecarrying capacity and to provide the heat required for the latent heatof evaporation of the moisture, before circulation within the dryingchamber. Preferably, a plate 50 is mounted within the annular flangebetween the motor 33 and the heating element 41 to prevent radiation ofheat from the element onto the motor and to substantially cut off inflowof air through the outer end of the annular flange I1. The small openingprovided through the plate' 50, through which the motor shaft 32 and theleads for the heating element 41 extend, is rendered substantiallyineffective to permit flow of air since the door 2| seals the only otheropening into the outer casing and drying chamber and thus preventsegress of air to the outside and consequent ingress of air through theplate 50.

In the modified form of structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4, further meansis provided for effecting condensation of the moisture content of theair discharged from the front end of the drum through the radialopenings 44 in the annular flange I6. Such means preferably comprises aduct 5| formed of sheet metal and extending upwardly about the flange IEto enclose the openings 44. Thus, air discharged through the openings 44is carried through the duct 5| and may be discharged therefrom intothespace between-the drum and the casing Hi through vents 52 provided inthe lowerportionof the duct 5 l. Preferably; inthis-embodiment of theinvention, the front upright 25' isprovided with a cut-out area 53:within which area the vents 52 are located so that air may be freelydischarged from the duct into the space between the drum and the casing.To cool the air as it passes through the duct5 lg'aspraying means 54 isprovided within the duct 5 I for spraying cooling fluid downwardlythrough the air as it passes through the duct. Thus, the cooling fluidwill substantially lower the. temperature of the air discharged from thedrying chamber to condense a major portion of the moisture contentthereof, and the cooling fluid as well as the condensate may be drawnoff through a discharge pipe 55 located at the lower end of the duct 5|.The air, after being thus cooled and having a portion of its moisturecontent removed, is discharged into the space between the drum and thecasing It, where it will further contact with the outer wall surfaces ofthe casing ID to effect further cooling of the air and condensation ofits moisture content if the cooling effect of the spray within the duct5! has not been sufficient to lower the air to the temperature of thewalls of the outside casing w. The air, after passing through the spacebetween the drum and the casing H3, is then drawn inwardly through theopenings 44 of the flange 11, as in the case of the previously describedembodiment of the invention, for reheating and then recirculationthrough the drying chamber.

I claim:

1. A laundry dryer comprising a non-insulating casing, a rotatable drummounted within said casing in spaced relation thereto, said drum havingintake and outlet openings both communicating with the space betweensaid casing and said drum, and said space providing communication fromsaid outlet to said inlet outside of said drum but within said casing, afan located in said drum for drawing air into said drum through saidintake from said space and for discharging air from said drum throughsaid outlet to said space, and a heater mounted in said intake to heatthe air drawn therethrough, the air discharged through said outlet beingreduced in temperature in passing through said space to condense aportion of the moisture therein before recirculation through andreheating in said drum.

2. A laundry dryer comprising a closed noninsulating casing, a generallycylindrical drum positioned within said casing in spaced relationthereto and with the axis of the drum horizontal, means for rotatablysupporting and driving said drum, said drum having annular flangesprojecting from its opposite ends and both flanges having radialperforations to provide communica tion at both ends of the drum with thespace between said drum and said casing, means for drawing air into saiddrum from said space through the radial perforations of one of saidflanges and for discharging air from said drum to said space through theradial perforations of the other of said flanges, and means located insaid one flange for heating the air as it is drawn into said drum.

3. A laundry dryer comprising a non-insulating casing, a generallycylindrical drum positioned within said casing in spaced relationthereto and with the axis of the drum horizontal, said drum havingannular flanges of smaller diameter than the drum projecting from itsopposite ends and perforated to provide communication at both ends ofthe drum with the space between said drum and said casing, meansengaging said flanges for rotatably supporting said drum, a fan locatedin said drum for drawing air through the perforations of one of saidflanges and for discharging air through the perforations of the otherflange, means located in said one flange for heating the air as it isdrawn into said drum, and means connected to one of said flanges fordriving the drum.

4. A laundry dryer comprising a closed noninsulating casing, a rotatablydriven drum mounted within said casing in spaced relation thereto, meansfor drawing air into said drum from the space between said drum and saidcasing and for discharging air from said drum into said space, meanslocated at the point where the air is admitted to the drum for heatingthe air as it enters said drum, the air discharged from said drum beingcooled by contact against said casing to condense moisture therefrom,and means on said drum for stirring the air in said space to increasecontact thereof with said casing.

5. A laundry dryer comprising a closed noninsulating casing, a rotatablydriven drum mounted within said casing in spaced relation thereto, meansfor drawing air into said drum from the space between said drum and saidcasing and for discharging air from said drum into said space, meanslocated at the point where the air is admitted to the drum for heatingthe air as it enters said drum, the air discharged from said drum beingcooled by contact against said casing to condense moisture therefrom,and a plurality of blades mounted on the periphery of said drum forstirring the air in said space to increase contact thereof withsaidcasing.

6. A laundry dryer comprising a casing, a generally cylindrical drummounted with its axis horizontal in said casing in spaced relationthereto and having a pair of annular flanges at its ends provided withradial perforations located in the space at the ends of the drum betweenthe drum and the casing, heating means within one of said flanges, meansfor drawing air into the drum from said space through the perforationsin said one flange and for discharging air from the drum through theperforations of the other flange, a duct extending around the last-mentioned flange to receive the air discharged through the perforationsthereof and being apertured to discharge the air into said space, andmeans in said duct for condensing moisture from said air.

7. A laundry dryer comprising a casing, a generally cylindrical drummounted with its axis horizontal in said casing in spaced relationthereto and having a pair of annular flanges at its ends provided withradial perforations located in the space at the ends of the drum betweenthe drum and the casing, heating means within one of said flanges, meansfor drawing air into the drum from said space through the perforationsin said one flange and for discharging air from the drum through theperforations of the other flange, a support of plate-like form having apair of rollers rotatably supporting the last-mentioned flange andhaving a cut-out area in its lower portion, a box-like duct interposedbetween the casing Wall and said support and having its upper endextending about said last-mentioned flange to receive the air dischargedthrough the perforations thereof, said duct having vents located in saidcut-out area for discharge of the air into said 7 space, and means insaid duet for condensing Number moisture from said air. 2,123,304CHARLES S. ONEIL. 2,137,376 2,262,186 REFERENCES CITED 5 2,310, 30 Thefollowing references are of record in the 2,372, file of this patent: 33

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 2,451,692 467,953 PeregrineFeb. 2, 1892 2,453,359 469,067 Servoss Feb. 16, 1892 1,019,999 TiemannMar. 12, 1912 1,531,257 Brockett Mar. 24, 1925 Number 1,756,992 QuiggleMay 6, 1930 15 511,612

8 Name Date Hetzer July 12, 1938 Altorfer Nov. 22, 1938 Lindberg Nov.11, 1941 Dinley Feb. 9, 1943 Morgenstern Apr. 3, 1945 Jorgenson et a1.Jan. 22, 1946 Purpura Feb. 25, 1947 Wales Jan. 13,1948 Pugh Oct. 19,1948 Pugh Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug.22, 1939

